I’m going to be in San Diego next week and I’m thinking about going to the Latin mass at Holy Cross. If I go it’ll be my first time attending the traditional mass, so I’m just wondering “how to attend”. Are there missals provided, do I say any of the responses, basically is there anything I need to know since I’ve only gone to the new mass?

I have only attended one and there aren’t usually any missals they say and there was an enterance and exit hymn in english, but alot have confession before mass so go early so you can take advantage of that. Ladies usually wear scarfs. Receiving the Eucharist may be different so sit in the mid or back so you can follow others. desert

I have only attended one and there aren’t usually any missals they say and there was an enterance and exit hymn in english, but alot have confession before mass so go early so you can take advantage of that. Ladies usually wear scarfs. Receiving the Eucharist may be different so sit in the mid or back so you can follow others. desert

I’m going to be in San Diego next week and I’m thinking about going to the Latin mass at Holy Cross. If I go it’ll be my first time attending the traditional mass, so I’m just wondering “how to attend”. Are there missals provided, do I say any of the responses, basically is there anything I need to know since I’ve only gone to the new mass?

Sit towards the front, otherwise you won’t have a good time.

Don’t sit at the very front…because then you may stand out as not knowing when to sit/kneel/stand. Sit in the third row-ish and follow everyone else.

Assuming you wish to recieve communion…simply walk with everyone else and kneel at the altar rail. The priest will stand in front of you for a few moments as he says the latin…take that time to tilt your head and open your mouth.

Yes, the one I went to the priest flys in on sat night for the mass on sunday and allows confession for 15 min before mass and then there is a time frame of about 45 min between masses so another 15 min is allowed for conf. this is probably not the norm?

Thank you all for the help! (By the way I’m a guy so no scarf for me :D.) Sadly, I can’t go up to receive communion yet since I’m still going through the RCIA process. Just a few more questions, would you recommend going to the high mass or the low mass? Do they still say the rosary before mass, if so is it in English or Latin? If responses vary from parish to parish, does anyone know how it is at Holy Cross? Sorry for all the questions but I really appreciate your guys’ help. Thanks again!

I agree with the advice to sit towards the front as it makes it easier to follow along if you can see what’s going on at the altar. Some parishes will have missals available for people to use, if they do they will usually be available in the foyer of the church. According the website for Holy Cross, they do pray the rosary at 8:30 am before the 9:00 am High Mass

If you want to experience the beauty of the Traditional Latin Mass, definitely go to a High Mass. It is absolutely beautiful!

Here is a link to the website for the San Diego Traditional Latin Mass Society that includes info on Holy Cross:

The Traditional Mass in San Diego has confessions on Sundays prior to Mass. They start at about 7:00 and then again at about 8:30… The Low Mass is at 7:30am and the High Mass at 9:00. A Rosary is said at about 8:30. It is in English. They usually have enough misalettes at the door. There will be a guy sitting by the door when you enter. Let him know if you will be receiving Holy Communion. That is important. There were so many people last week they had to start fractioning the individual Hosts. If you choose the attend the High Mass, there will be consecrated Hosts in the Tabernacle on the altar so you will want to genuflect. The way the Chapel is set up even if you are at the front you will be able to see others to the sides. I would recommend that you sit close to the front. You’ll see why when you get there.

I think you will have a lot of the myths about the Traditional Mass dispelled by attending the Mass here. San Diego was one of the first Dioceses in the country to offer the Indult, and the Traditional Mass Society here has over 20 years experience putting them on. I don’t think you could really ask for better first time exposure to the Traditional Mass. Another thing that you will find here is the incredible number of young adults that attend as well as older, like me. It is a very eclectic community, with all races, sexes and ages well represented. Our new Pastor, Father Dillard, is only able to be there occasionally due to his regular committments, but the Norbertine Fathers do an outstanding job and are to be commended coming all the way down here every Sunday.

Don’t worry about being a newbie. We always have new people dropping in don’t sweat it and relax. You will notice that many people are not sure what to do either. Its OK. Being perfect in posture is not as important as is the case in the Pauline Rite. You won’t get a lot of dirty looks or anything like that. Besides, hearing the Mass at Holy Cross is a unique experience, take my word for it, you see what I mean when you get there.

Thanks again, I’ll be there Sunday then for the high mass. I’m coming down from Oregon so anything “cold” in San Diego won’t be a problem. Oh and please pray for me, I really hate driving through the mountains when there’s snow.

Thanks again, I’ll be there Sunday then for the high mass. I’m coming down from Oregon so anything “cold” in San Diego won’t be a problem. Oh and please pray for me, I really hate driving through the mountains when there’s snow.

Yes…the High Mass is the best for a first timer.

The Low Mass can get confusing at times depending on the priest’s speed at Latin.

I finally went to my first Latin Mass. It was really awesome, I was quite shocked at how beautiful it was. Before going, I thought that the priest facing “ad orientem” would be weird, but it actually felt really natural and made more sense. What surprised me the most was that the sermon was meaningful to me and it even mentioned the consequences of abandoning faith in God, that’s the first time I can honestly say that since I started attending mass. As soon as I move back, that’s where I’ll be going every Sunday. Thanks to everyone for the information!!

I finally went to my first Latin Mass. It was really awesome, I was quite shocked at how beautiful it was. Before going, I thought that the priest facing “ad orientem” would be weird, but it actually felt really natural and made more sense. What surprised me the most was that the sermon was meaningful to me and it even mentioned the consequences of abandoning faith in God, that’s the first time I can honestly say that since I started attending mass. As soon as I move back, that’s where I’ll be going every Sunday. Thanks to everyone for the information!!

You, like many others, have just stumbled upon the Church’s greatest prayer and Spiritual Treasury.

I finally went to my first Latin Mass. It was really awesome, I was quite shocked at how beautiful it was. Before going, I thought that the priest facing “ad orientem” would be weird, but it actually felt really natural and made more sense. What surprised me the most was that the sermon was meaningful to me and it even mentioned the consequences of abandoning faith in God, that’s the first time I can honestly say that since I started attending mass. As soon as I move back, that’s where I’ll be going every Sunday. Thanks to everyone for the information!!

See, I told you:thumbsup: A lot of the negative things you hear about the Traditional Mass are myths, promoted by people who hate it. Pure and simple. I once posted a list of the complaints that Martin Luther, the great seeker of truth as well as other early Protestant reformers had about the Mass, You know what, word for word they are exactly the same as those that many today have. No difference. I will go a step further. If you press many of these Traditional Mass haters, they will admit that they have never been to one, but have been told about them or heard about them or saw one on You Tube or some such nonsense.

I stopped paying attention to the posts about the clacking of rosary beads, muttered prayers in a dead language and 8 minute, no 6 minute no make that a 3 minute Tridentine Mass and no body knowing what was going on when I realized it was mostly propaganda and part of a bigger plan that has been around since the 1500’s.

If you press many of these Traditional Mass haters, they will admit that they have never been to one, but have been told about them or heard about them

Dear Palmas,

My goodness, it really seems to be a fabrication to print this extraordinary bit of information. I have observed the posts and threads on this forum for a couple of years, and rarely, if ever found anyone “hating” the traditional mass. Maybe you could give links to these? Perhaps you are using a hyperbole for “abandoning it” in preference for the Pauline Mass.

Any Catholic who loves the Lord, loves His liturgies, no matter what form they take. It is His holy sacrifice and His ineffable gift to us in the sacrament received there.

What you may find, alternatively, is an entire forum of people who seemingly “hate” the N.O. mass and bash it every chance they get, endlessly proselytising and verbally insulting those who do not share their views. Ask me how many times I have been given the royal insolent treatment for expressing my love for it. :rolleyes: Yet you do not see me “hating” the TLM or those who have a preference for it.

As for never having been to a TLM? Nonsense. I was raised with it, and lived through all the changes in my adult years, not as a child like some. I was able to evaluate [as an adult] and appreciate the changes because explanations were given continuously from the pulpit to educate us. Many who did not live in that time were not as blessed to know the background, and IMO, have little or no incentive to self-educate. Their only recourse, unfortunately, is the nonsense promulgated by traditionist websites, without a shred of truth in some of them.

Sunday’s psalm response at our english mass, which TLM-ers unfortunately are never exposed to, said it well:

R. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.R. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
Happy they who dwell in your house!
Continually they praise you.

Would that this could be said of both the TLM and the NO, for both are the Lord’s.